Baker councilman at center of pastry theft case

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BAKER- A councilman here has a warrant out for his arrest, accused of stealing a pastry from a meat market and then threatening a store worker who confronted him about the alleged theft.

The warrant for John Givens was issued Wednesday, a day after police were called to Ragusa's Meat Market on Groom Road. The store clerk told authorities, Givens ate a pastry and refused to pay for it.

According to documents obtained by WBRZ News 2, Givens pulled out a badge and identified himself as a public officer when the clerk said he was going to call police if Givens did not pay for the pastry. The worker, identified as Abdalah Mizyed, reported that Givens suggested the only reason the business was open was because Givens used his council position to approve the license.

Mizyed told a police officer who responded to the initial complaint, Givens made him feel intimidated and scared.

According to court documents, the entire altercation is captured on surveillance video and Givens admitted to eating the cake and putting the wrapper in his pocket before paying for other items in the store Tuesday afternoon.

Givens faces theft of goods and abuse of office charges.

Givens did not answer the phone when WBRZ attempted to contact him about this story.*************Follow the publisher of this post on Twitter: @treyschmaltz